A colt foal son of the Holstein stallion Casall ASK lifted the roof at Cavan last Thursday night, when he changed hands for a breath-taking €28,000.

Spearheading a remarkable, albeit two tier trade, the colt delivered one of five, heady five-figure returns and is thought to be the highest priced foal in Irish sport horse auction history. Reflecting on a satisfactory evening’s work, Cavan’s Stuart Clarke commented. “The trade was a little unusual, as some parts were hard work and others extremely good. I’m delighted too, with both the clearance of 76% and the average (€9,110).”

It was a truly memorable night for vendors Matthew McBreen and Danielle Clarke, for whom this was their first partnership venture. The duo had bought the smart show jumping dam Pikachu (formerly known as Classic Babe) the winter before last and as McBreen explained. “She was 21-years-old at the time, and we only paid €400 for her.

“Danielle had owned and jumped her, and when we heard she was on the market, we decided to try to buy her. Through Euro Stallions we then put her in foal to Casall, and she took at the first covering. I breed every year, but I’ve never had anything like this and it’s only just sinking in! Danielle and I would like to wish Cian O’Connor and Ross Mulholland all the very best with him.”

Pikachu (by Cantus) was produced in Germany, where she jumped to 1.50m level with Manfred Marschall. On arrival in Ireland, she was initially campaigned by Cian O’Connor, and subsequently by John Floody and Danielle Clarke. Changing hands again, she retired to stud with Patrick McGree in Co Kilkenny, where she bred three earlier progeny.

stout dam line

Carrying a stout dam’s line, she is a sibling to Cairo (1.50m) and Canon (1.40m), while her dam Legende (by Lord) is a half-sister to the top-class Nations Cup and European Championship horse Goliath (1.60m) and Sea Coast Conan (1.60m).

Unsurprisingly, there was a real air of anticipation when the mare and foal stepped into the ring. The bidding opened at €10,000 and keeping their cool, McBreen and Clarke did not let the hand brake off until it reached €22,000.

A further few bids followed, and the hammer finally fell in favour of Cian O’Connor and Ross Mulholland’s syndicate Ronocco Jump Ltd at €28,000. Speaking to the Farmers Journal, O’Connor explained. “I imported the mare, who was known then as Classic Babe and a very good jumper. I was not really planning to buy any more foals, as I already have four, but the dam caught my attention in the catalogue. Ross was at Cavan, and having seen the foal, he phoned me and said we should try to buy him.”

There were 25 foals forward on the night, and another to smash the €20,000 barrier was Clement Stapleton’s colt by Cornet Obolensky out of Sligo Cruise Way (Cruising). The dam jumped to 1.20m under Francis Connors, and is a full sister to Sligo Cruise With Me (1.40m). American customer Gretchen Biedron signed the docket for this smart colt at €22,000, while earlier in the session her compatriot Molly Tracy paid €17,000 for Michael Callery’s colt by Comilfo Plus Z out of Imperious Lux (Lux Z).

The daughters of both American customers are based with Greg Broderick in Co Tipperary, and it was Broderick himself who accounted for the final five figure price at €11,000. This fell to Iarla Hayden’s well related filly by Kannan out of Legaland Lux (Lux Z). This eye catcher was one of four progeny to change hands by this very commercial sire, and was the best return of the fillies, who proved less popular than in recent years.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, nine foals realised €6,000 or less.